Lost sierra
- Thread starter Ed Heston
- Start date
Since Ed is out of town on another adventure, I'll do the Lost Sierra trip report.
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On Sept 19th we started our exploration of the Lost Sierra at the Plumas Eureka mining museum. One of the highlights is a scale working model of the five stamp mill which is still standing at the site. Fairly complicated process to extract gold from the crushed rocks, with copper plates and mercury involved. Lots of very large cast iron relics from the mining industry scattered about. It's a paved road to the museum, and definitely worth a visit.
After a few hours at the museum we were ready for the trails!
From the museum we took the trail out of Upper Jamison campground and started the climb. Bumpy, but not technical. Past the A tree heading towards Spencer Lakes, the trail gets narrower, with steeper climbs and bigger boulders. The trail became painfully slow. We pushed on past Hawley Lake and on to the Snake Lake loop. Or at least Ben's version of the loop, 11E67 (Gold Valley OHV Trail). We only had trouble with one particular spot on the section that we drove. And it was steep, with big boulders, and multiple challenges one after another. You will only make it up the hill with the perfect line and a lot of ground clearance, and maybe a spotter thrown into the mix. To make matters worse, we met a group heading the opposite direction at the very section we were struggling with. Plus a constant stream of mountain bikers going through at the same time. I think we were there a couple hours. Russel was having some mechanical problems, so he got winched up the hill on a double line pull, with Ed providing the anchor point and orchestrating the assist. Everyone in the group smacked their differential housing at least once. We were driving the loop counterclockwise, so you're climbing the hill when you encounter it. Clockwise you would go down the hill, which has its own disadvantages. If you make a mistake you can't back up, and your line is totally blinded by the hood of your car, so you can't see where to go. Anyway, if you want to drive this trail take note. It is not a green trail as OnX maps would suggest. And you can't avoid this obstacle. 39.654067, -120.704967
Once we cleared the traffic jam, we followed Ben's route down the hill to the Kentucky Mine Museum. We were bummed because they closed Labor Day weekend. Beautiful mill that's had extensive restoration done thanks to some wealthy donors. They give tours when they're open. Took a detour back into the Lakes Basin and up to the Sardine Lakes and Mills Peak fire lookout. The lookout was staffed and the host was super accommodating. The views we're so expansive they seemed to fade into infinity. There was also a storm passing through with thunder in the distance, a fitting backdrop to its function.
The Kentucky Mine
Heading into the basin we get a view of the Sierra Buttes
Mills Peak fire lookout
≠=================≠
On Sept 19th we started our exploration of the Lost Sierra at the Plumas Eureka mining museum. One of the highlights is a scale working model of the five stamp mill which is still standing at the site. Fairly complicated process to extract gold from the crushed rocks, with copper plates and mercury involved. Lots of very large cast iron relics from the mining industry scattered about. It's a paved road to the museum, and definitely worth a visit.
After a few hours at the museum we were ready for the trails!
From the museum we took the trail out of Upper Jamison campground and started the climb. Bumpy, but not technical. Past the A tree heading towards Spencer Lakes, the trail gets narrower, with steeper climbs and bigger boulders. The trail became painfully slow. We pushed on past Hawley Lake and on to the Snake Lake loop. Or at least Ben's version of the loop, 11E67 (Gold Valley OHV Trail). We only had trouble with one particular spot on the section that we drove. And it was steep, with big boulders, and multiple challenges one after another. You will only make it up the hill with the perfect line and a lot of ground clearance, and maybe a spotter thrown into the mix. To make matters worse, we met a group heading the opposite direction at the very section we were struggling with. Plus a constant stream of mountain bikers going through at the same time. I think we were there a couple hours. Russel was having some mechanical problems, so he got winched up the hill on a double line pull, with Ed providing the anchor point and orchestrating the assist. Everyone in the group smacked their differential housing at least once. We were driving the loop counterclockwise, so you're climbing the hill when you encounter it. Clockwise you would go down the hill, which has its own disadvantages. If you make a mistake you can't back up, and your line is totally blinded by the hood of your car, so you can't see where to go. Anyway, if you want to drive this trail take note. It is not a green trail as OnX maps would suggest. And you can't avoid this obstacle. 39.654067, -120.704967
Once we cleared the traffic jam, we followed Ben's route down the hill to the Kentucky Mine Museum. We were bummed because they closed Labor Day weekend. Beautiful mill that's had extensive restoration done thanks to some wealthy donors. They give tours when they're open. Took a detour back into the Lakes Basin and up to the Sardine Lakes and Mills Peak fire lookout. The lookout was staffed and the host was super accommodating. The views we're so expansive they seemed to fade into infinity. There was also a storm passing through with thunder in the distance, a fitting backdrop to its function.
The Kentucky Mine
Heading into the basin we get a view of the Sierra Buttes
Mills Peak fire lookout
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With the first half of our trip completed, we headed south towards Weber Lake for the start of our lakes tour of the Tahoe BDT. Our route took us east to west past Weber Lake, Meadow Lake and up to Sawmill Lake, where we scored a waterfront campsite. The following morning we made the out and back to Faucherie Lake. Lined in granite hills, it was absolutely stunning, with a waterfall on its inlet. The lakes around here are all dammed irrigation and/or hydroelectric reservoirs, but they still have their unique beauty set in the granite backdrop of the Sierras. The roads we drove in this area were mild compared to the Lost Sierra.
Faucherie Lake
Bowman Lake
Our final day took us past Bowman Lake and down to Interstate 80 to conclude this section of the trip. Ed headed home to prepare for his next adventure, while I headed south to Bishop for a week in my old stomping grounds. Buttermilk Country, Volcanic Tablelands (petroglyphs), Bristlecone Pines Forest, Silver Canyon, etc. It was already snowing on the peaks when I headed for home Oct 1st.
Sunset over Mount Tom and Wheeler Ridge, Bishop CA
High over the Buttermilks with the White Mountains generating cumulus clouds across the valley. Buttermilk Road was really rough compared to the last time I was here a couple decades ago. Increased traffic and lack of maintenance has certainly taken it's toll.
The Volcanic Tablelands
Bristlecone Pines, the oldest trees on the planet. Dated to over 4000 years and still living!
The Bristlecone Pine Forest is in the White Mountains a bit above 10K ft. I did the loop from Bishop to Big Pine and up White Mountain Road. I descended down Silver Canyon, a 6K foot drop in 11 mi. The road was in surprisingly good condition and looked recently graded (if that's even possible). The tight switchbacks would have made it much more difficult going uphill.
Fall was showing its colors at 10k feet. Sabrina Lake and the road to North Lake.
Faucherie Lake
Bowman Lake
Our final day took us past Bowman Lake and down to Interstate 80 to conclude this section of the trip. Ed headed home to prepare for his next adventure, while I headed south to Bishop for a week in my old stomping grounds. Buttermilk Country, Volcanic Tablelands (petroglyphs), Bristlecone Pines Forest, Silver Canyon, etc. It was already snowing on the peaks when I headed for home Oct 1st.
Sunset over Mount Tom and Wheeler Ridge, Bishop CA
High over the Buttermilks with the White Mountains generating cumulus clouds across the valley. Buttermilk Road was really rough compared to the last time I was here a couple decades ago. Increased traffic and lack of maintenance has certainly taken it's toll.
The Volcanic Tablelands
Bristlecone Pines, the oldest trees on the planet. Dated to over 4000 years and still living!
The Bristlecone Pine Forest is in the White Mountains a bit above 10K ft. I did the loop from Bishop to Big Pine and up White Mountain Road. I descended down Silver Canyon, a 6K foot drop in 11 mi. The road was in surprisingly good condition and looked recently graded (if that's even possible). The tight switchbacks would have made it much more difficult going uphill.
Fall was showing its colors at 10k feet. Sabrina Lake and the road to North Lake.
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Really nice…